What to do if I was arrested and remained in jail for 47 days but just days after my arrest, my landlord went into my home, removed all my possessions and threw it all away?
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What to do if I was arrested and remained in jail for 47 days but just days after my arrest, my landlord went into my home, removed all my possessions and threw it all away?
He admitted to this. I had no notice to vacate, no eviction notice, nothing. Was he allowed to do this and if not, what actions can I take? I am a single mother and this was everything my child and I owned. We were left with a suitcase of clothes, nothing else.
Asked on December 18, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
You can sue your landlord to recover the value of everything he dispossed of, and possibly additional compensation, too. A landlord may not dispose of a tenant's goods until after a proper eviction, and then only if the landlord complies with state law, such as an abandoned property law, on the subject. Disposing of tenant goods under other circumstances can make the landlord liable for them. Ideally, you should get an attorney to help you; if you can't afford an attorney, try contacting Legal Services, who provide lawyers for those who cannot afford them; if Legal Services cannot or will not help you, you should probably sue in small claims court, where filing fees are low, cases move quickly, and you can act as your own attorney.
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